Counter display device



Nov. 24, 1959 M. GLABERSON COUNTER DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mgwwhm Nov. 24, 1959 M. GLABERSON COUNTER DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1957 INVENTOR. fiiaemorz,

United States Patent COUNTER DISPLAY DEVICE Martin Glaberson, Ardsley, N.Y., assignor to Eversharp, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1957, Serial No. 698,010

14 Claims. (Cl. 211-178) This invention relates to advertising and display devices and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a device for displaying a plurality of articles of merchandise on a counter or similar supporting surface.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a merchandise display and dispensing device which is adapted to be arranged in an upright position on a counter or other supporting surface and which will accommodate a plurality of articles mounted in readily removable relation thereon and accompanying advertising so as to pro vide an attractive display while permitting the individual articles to be easily removed for inspection or for delivery to a purchaser.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a merchandise display device for supporting in readily detachable relation thereon a plurality of articles such as, for example, razor kits, with the device being collapsible so as to provide a compact shipping and storage unit and being adapted to be quickly set up and supported in upright position on a counter or similar surface with the merchandise in full display, and with space provided adjacent the merchandise for appropriate advertising material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for displaying a plurality of razor kits or similar merchandise which comprises a base having pivotally supported thereon a frame adapted to be automatically locked in an upright position when moved thereto and a display card or board on which the razor kits are mounted, the card being swingably mounted on the upper portion of the frame and being adapted to automatically poition itself, when the frame is upright, in a generally vertical plane for full display of the merchandise mounted thereon.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a display device for a plurality of articles, such as razor kits, which is characterized by a base member adapted to be positioned on a horizontal supporting surface, a generally U-shaped frame arranged in inverted relation with the ends of its legs pivotally mounted in recesses in the base, and a display card mounted on the frame which has hingedly connected lower and upper panels for receiving the articles and display advertising, respectively, the card being adapted to fold about the hinge connecting the panels into collapsed relation with the panels on opposite sides of the U-shaped frame and the U-shaped frame being adapted to pivot into the plane of the base to provide a compact shipping unit.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the display device which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display device embodying the invention with the article supporting frame in erected position and with a portion of the articles which it is adapted to display being indicated in dotted line;

Patented Nov. 24, 1959 Figure 2 is a side elevation of the display device with portions broken away;

Figure El is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device in collapsed condition;

Figure 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6, to an enlarged scale;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the manner of initially assembling the article supporting card with the supporting frame;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross section, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8, to an enlarged scale; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner of attaching the articles to the article sup porting card.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a display device which has incorporated therein the principal features of the invention and which is particularly designed for displaying, in an attractive manner, on a store counter or like supporting surface, a plurality of articles of merchandise such as razor kits 10, which are characterized by the razor and its accessories being enclosed in a container having a transparent cover member so that the contents of the container is visible through the cover member and being further characterized by having supporting feet which are utilized in attaching the containers to the display device.

The illustrated display device comprises a base member 11, an upright frame member 12 and a board or panel member 13 on which the razor kits 10 are detachably supported. The hollow base member 11 (Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6) is of generally U shape with relatively short parallel oppositely disposed leg portions 14 and 14 and with a connecting bight portion 15 which forms the front of the member. The legs 14 and 14 are identical in construction except for being rights and lefts and are provided along the inside edges with horizontal ledge or shelf formations 16, 16 which terminate at outwardly directed vertically extending recesses 17 and 17 which are aligned transversely of the base and open inwardly toward each other. The recesses 17, 17 each extend a short distance into the body of the leg adjacent the inner vertical wall 18 of the bight portion 15 and the outer vertical walls 19, 19' thereof are provided with apertures 20, 20' which form bearing sockets for pivotally attaching thereto the supporting frame member 12.

The supporting frame member 12 is preferably in the form of a wire or rod bent into U shape to provide a pair of leg members 22, 22' terminating at their lower ends in outwardly bent extensions 23, 2 3, the latter being adapted to be received in the bearing apertures 20, 20 in the recesses 17, 17' in the base member '11. The frame member 12 has a top cross member or bight portion 24 with its middle section 25 offset relative to the end portions 26,26 and with connecting portions 27, 27', the latter 'forming with the middle section 25 a generally U-shaped upward bulge in the middle of the frame cross member 24. The top cross member 24 of the frame 12 forms a support for the article carrying display card or board 13.

The display board or card 13 is preferably formed from cardboard but may be of any similar relatively stiif bendable sheet material. It is divided into a lower article supporting section 28 and an upper display section 29 by a transverse crease line 30 which forms a connecting hinge between the two sections. The upper display section 29 is cut or slit in the center adjacent the hinge line 30 on a transversely extending line 31 which is slightly offset relative to the hinge line 30 and which terminates at its ends at relatively short cutting lines 32, 32'. The cutting lines 32, 32' which diverge outwardly somewhat extend in the vertical or longitudinal direction of the card 13 and traverse the hinge line 30, the latter being interrupted in the center of the card and extending only from the cutting lines 32, 32' to the side edges of the card. The cutting lines 32, 32' extend to transverse cutting lines 33, 33' which are parallel with the hinge line 30 and extend, in the direction of the side margins of the card, to elongate transversely extending apertures 34, 34', the latter being of a width somewhat greater than the diameter of the top cross bar 24 of the supporting frame 12 on which the card 13 is mounted. The apertures 34, 34' terminate at their inner ends at cutting lines 35, 35' which extend in the longitudinal direction of the card from the transverse cutting lines 33, 33' a short distance beyond the opposite margins of the apertures 34, 34' and into the body of the display section 29 of the card 13. The cutting lines 31, 32, 32', 33, 33' and 35, 35' define a tongue forming portion 36 in the display section 29 which may be sprung out of the plane of the card as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 to permit the card to be attached to or assembled with the supporting frame 12 by passing the offset portion 25 of the top cross bar 24 of the frame 12 through the aperture formed when the tongue 36 is sprung to one side of the card. The location of the cutting lines forming the tongue 36 and the apertures 34, 34' relative to the hinge line 30 permits the card 13 to be readily assembled with the frame 12 and to be supported on the end sections 26, 26' of the frame top cross member 24 in a generally vertical position when the device is erected while at the same time the two sections 28 and 29 of the card may be readily folded upon each other about the hinge line 30 to reduce the size of the card when the device is collapsed for shipment or storage.

The articles which are adapted to be displayed on the lower vertical section 28 of the article supporting card 13 may be detachably mounted on the card in any convenient manner. The razor cases 10, which are supported on the card 13 in the device, as illustrated, may be two different sizes as shown. They are provided with small feet 41 (Figures 2 and which have two oppositely disposed edges 42, 42' tapered inwardly toward the bottom of the case and which are adapted to be inserted in the apertures 43 formed in properly spaced relation in the card 13. The apertures 43 are each formed by pairs of spaced transverse and longitudinal cuts or slits 44, 44' and 45, 45', with the latter having their ends extending beyond the ends of the former and being curved so as to provide bendable tongues in the card material surrounding the aperture 43. The apertures 43 each have a dimension in the direction transversely of the card which is somewhat smaller than the corresponding dimension of the bottom of the feet 41 and the apertures are spaced to enable each case 10 to be attached to the card 13 by forcing the feet 41 thereon through the proper set of apertures 43 in the card where they are frictionally retained until it is desired to remove the case for delivery to a purchaser.

The display device is initially assembled, as shown in Figure 5, with the razor cases or units 10 positioned on the article supporting section 28 of the card 13 and with the card 13 having its two sections 28 and 29 folded upon each other and attached to the supporting wire frame 12, the latter having its legs seated in the recesses 16, 16' under tension so that when the frame is pivoted about the end bearing sections 23, 23' to an upright position on the base 11, the legs 22, 22 will snap outwardly and the bottom ends will be held in the socket forming vertical recesses 17, 17 as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The recesses 17, 17' which extend in a vertical direction are preferably inclined to a slight degree in the direction of the rear of the base and the legs of the frame 12 are held therein so that the frame is in a rearwardly inclined plane when in the erected position. The weight of the razor units 40 on the bottom supporting section 28 of the card 13 will cause the top section 29 of the card to pivot about the hinge 30 into a generally upright position so that the razor cases are held in a vertically extending plane which is inclined in the rearward direction and advertising printed or displayed on the top section 29 of the card 13 is visible along with the tops of the razor cases which are carried on the card.

While preferred materials and details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the invention, it will be understood that other materials and equivalent details may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention. Also, while the device has been described in connection with the display of razor cases, it is not intended to limit its use to the display of such articles since it is adapted for use in connection with the display of other merchandise.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a base member, a. wire frame of inverted U-shaped form having a bight portion and leg portions the lower ends thereof pivoted to the base member, means on the base member for locking the frame in an upright position, a cardboard panel member having a transverse hinge intermediate its top and bottom edges which divides the same into a lower article supporting portion and an upper advertising display portion when said panel member is in an upright position, said panel member having a transverse slit adjacent said hinge which terminates at its ends in transversely spaced apertures through which part of the bight portion of said wire frame extends whereby the said panel member is pivotally attached to said U-shaped frame for collapsing movement on the bight portion thereof.

2. A display device comprising a base member having parallel recesses spaced inwardly of oppositely disposed side edges, which recesses terminate at their inner ends in outwardly directed sockets, a wire frame member of inverted U shape having a bight portion and legs with the free ends of its legs bent at right angles thereto and in opposite directions and adapted to be inserted in the sockets at the ends of the recesses in said base member, a panel member of relatively stiif cardboard having a transverse hinge intermediate its top and bottom edges which divides the same into a lower article supporting portion and an upper display portion, said panel member having a transversely extending slit adjacent said hinge which terminates at its ends in apertures spaced inwardly of the side edges of the panel member, said frame having a central part of its bight portion bent into offset relation and inserted through the slit in said panel member so that the bight portion of the frame extends through the apertures in said panel member with adjoining portions on opposite sides of said panel member and forming therefor a pivotal support, said panel member having a means for attaching thereto a series of articles for display purposes with the weight of the articles pulling the panel member down and urging the article supporting and display portions into substantially the same vertical plane.

3. A counter display and article dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface and having downwardly extending recesses arranged in parallel relation and spaced inwardly of a pair of opposite edges thereof, said recesses terminating at their inner ends in outwardly and upwardly directed sockets, a wire frame of inverted U shape having a bight forming portion and leg forming portions with the ends of said leg forming portions bent outwardly and adapted to be received in said sockets, the upper bight forming portion of said frame having a middle section thereof bent into parallel oifset relation relative to the end sections, a display card divided into upper and lower portions by a transverse hinge, said display card having a transversely extending U-shaped slit adjacent the center portion of the hinge which has leg forming portions terminating at the upper ends at outwardly directed transversely extending slits with the latter extending to generally circular apertures, said apertures being adapted to receive the offset section of the frame bight portion so that the offset section extends along the front of the card while the remaining sections of the bight portion extend along the back of the card, said card being adapted to be folded upon itself about the hinge with the upper and lower portions thereof on opposite sides of said frame.

4. A display device comprising a base member, an upright wire frame and an article supporting card, said base member having parallel horizontal recesses spaced inwardly of oppositely disposed side edges and terminating at their inner ends at outwardly directed sockets for receiving the lower ends of said wire frame, said wire frame being of inverted U shape with a bight portion and legs having on the ends thereof bent portions extending in opposite directions and adapted to be inserted in the sockets at the end of the recesses in said base member, a panel member of relatively stifi board-like material having a transverse hinge intermediate its top and bottom edges which divides the same into a lower article supporting portion and upper display portion, said panel member having bearing apertures spaced inwardly of its side edges and a transversely extending slit adjacent said hinge which extends to the bearing apertures, said wire frame having a central part of its bight portion bent into offset relation in the plane of the frame and inserted through the slit in said panel member so that said central part of the bight portion and adjoining portions thereof are on opposite sides of said panel member and form a pivotal support for said panel member, said panel member having a means for attaching thereto a series of articles for display purposes.

5. A counter display and article dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface and having downwardly extending recesses arranged in parallel relation and spaced inwardly of a pair of opposite edges thereof, said recesses terminating at their inner ends in vertically extending outwardly directed upwardly opening recesses which have aligned bearing sockets, a resilient wire frame connected to said base member, said wire frame being of inverted U shape and having legs with the end portions thereof bent outwardly in opposite directions, said frame being adapted to be sprung to position the bent end portions of the legs thereof in said sockets when said frame is in upright position, said frame having an upper bight forming portion with a middle section bent into upwardly offset relation relative to the end sections thereof, a display card -connected to said wire frame, said display card being divided into upper and lower portions by a transversely extending hinge,

.and having a U-shaped slit extending transversely thereof adjacent the center portion of the hinge, said slit having legs terminating at their upper ends at outwardly directed transverse slits with the latter terminating at apertures which extend transversely of the card, said apertures being adapted to receive the frame bight portion so that the offset section thereof extends along the front of the card while the remaining sections of the bight portion extend along the back of the card, said card being adapted to be folded upon itself about the hinge with the upper and lower portions thereof on opposite sides of said frame.

6. A counter display and article dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface and having upwardly opening horizontal recesses arranged in parallel relation and spaced inwardly of a pair of opposite edges thereof, said recesses terminating at their inner ends in vertically disposed upwardly opening recesses which extend transversely toward said opposite edges and which terminate at wall portions having outwardly directed transversely disposed bearing sockets, a resilient wire frame connected to said base, said wire frame being of inverted U shape with a bight portion and legs which have the end portions thereof bent outwardly and pivotally mounted in said bearing sockets, said frame having portions of its legs positioned in said horizontal recesses in the collapsed position and having the ends of its legs sprung outwardly and positioned in said vertical recesses in the erected position thereof, and a display card on said frame which has a transversely extending hinge dividing it into upper and lower portions, said card having a slit extending transversely thereof adjacent the center portion of the hinge which has at its ends transversely spaced generally circular bearing apertures, and the bight portion of said frame having a part thereof adapted to be passed through said slit so as to position adjoining parts in said apertures whereby said card is adapted to be folded upon itself about the hinge with the upper and lower portions thereof on opposite sides of said frame.

7. A counter display and article dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface and having horizontal upwardly opening recesses which are arranged in spaced generally parallel relation and which extend at their inner ends to upwardly and inwardly opening relatively narrow vertical recesses, said base member having bearing formations providing outwardly directed bearing sockets at the outer ends of said vertical recesses, a resilient wire frame on said base member, said wire frame being of inverted U shape and having a bight portion and legs with the end portions of its legs bent outwardly and adapted to be received in said bearing sockets, said legs being tensioned to spring outwardly so that said frame may be swung from a collapsed position where the legs are seated in said horizontal recesses to an erected position where the ends of the legs are seated in said vertical recesses, an article supporting display card on said frame, said display card being divided into upper and lower portions by a transverse hinge and having a transversely extending slit adjacent the center portion of the hinge, and transversely spaced generally circular apertures at opposite ends of said slit, said apertures being adapted to receive the frame bight portion with portions of the card on one side of the frame and other portions on the other side of the frame whereby said card is supported on said frame so that it may be folded upon itself with the upper and lower portions thereof engaged with opposite sides of said frame.

8. A display device comprising a base member having parallel upwardly opening spaced recesses, which recesses terminate at their inner ends in outwardly directed up wardly opening pockets and a wire frame member having its ends received in said pockets, said pockets each having an apertured outer wall, said wire frame member being of inverted U shape providing generally parallel legs and a connecting bight portion with the legs having end portions bent in opposite directions and adapted to be seated in the pockets at the end of the recesses in said base member so that said wire frame member may be swung from a collapsed position where the legs are seated in said recess to an upstanding position where the bent ends of the legs spring outwardly and are seated in the apertures in the outer walls of said pockets with adjoining portions of said legs being held in said pockets, a panel member on said frame which is formed of relatively stiff cardboard having a transverse hinge intermediate its top and bottom edges which divides the same into a lower article supporting portion and upper display portion, said panel member having means adjacent said hinge for attaching said panel member in pivoted relation on the bight portion of said frame and said panel member having a means for attaching thereto a series of articles on the display portion thereof.

9. A display device comprising a base member having spaced bearing sockets and a wire frame member of inverted generally U shape providing a bight portion and legs with the free ends of its legs bent at angles thereto and aligned for insertion in the sockets in said base member, a panel member on said frame which is formed of relatively stiff cardboard having a transversely extending hinge intermediate its top and bottom edges which divides the same into a lower article supporting portion and upper display portion, said panel member having a transversely extending slit adjacent said hinge and apertures spaced inwardly of the side edges of the panel member at the ends of said slit, said frame having a part of its bight portion inserted through the slit in said panel member so that the bight portion of the frame extends through the apertures in said panel member with adjoining portions on opposite sides of said panel member and forms therefor a pivotal support, and said panel member having a means for attaching thereto a series of articles.

10. A counter display and article dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface, said base member being U-shaped and having leg forming sections with inner edges in which upwardly and inwardly opening horizontal recesses are arranged, said recesses terminating at their inner ends in vertically disposed upwardly and inwardly opening recesses which extend toward said opposite edges and vertical end walls at the ends of said recesses having outwardly directed transversely aligned apertures forming bearing sockets, a resilient wire frame of inverted U-shape pivotally supported on said base, said frame having legs and a connecting bight portion with the end portions of its legs being bent outwardly and arranged for insertion in said bearing sockets, said frame being swingable from a collapsed position in which its legs are seated in said horizontal recesses to an erected position in which its legs are sprung outwardly and seated in said vertical recesses in the erected position thereof, and a display card mounted on said frame, said card being divided into upper and lower portions by a transverse hinge, said card having a transversely extending slit adjacent the center portion of the hinge and transversely spaced generally circular bearing apertures at the ends of said slit, said bearing apertures being adapted to receive the bight portion of the frame so that the card is pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to be collapsed upon itself with the upper and lower portions thereof on opposite sides of said frame.

11. A counter display and article dispensing device as recited in claim 10 and said display card extending between said base and the top end of said frame when the display card and the frame are moved to a collapsed position substantially in the plane of the base member.

12. A display device comprising a relatively flat base member, an inverted generally U-shaped frame member having legs and a connecting bight portion with its legs pivoted to the base member for movement from a collapsed position substantially in the plane of the base member to a position in upright relation on the base member, and a cardboard panel member on said frame, said panel member having a transverse hinge dividing the same into an upper display portion and a lower article supporting portion which portions are collapsible upon each other about said hinge, said panel member having means adjacent said hinge for pivotally mounting the same on the bight portion of said frame member so that when said panel portions are collapsed on each other they are substantially in the plane of the frame member and said base and frame members having cooperating means for releasably locking said frame member in the erected position on said base member.

13. An article display and dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be positioned on a horizontal supporting surface, a frame member of inverted U shape having a bight portion and generally parallel legs with its legs pivotally mounted on the base member and movable from a horizontal collapsed position to an upright erected position, and an article supporting panel member of relatively stiff bendable sheet material mounted on said frame member, said panel member having a transverse crease line forming a hinge dividing the panel into two sections which are foldable upon each other to collapse said panel, said panel having means adjacent said hinge for pivotally attaching the same to the free end of said frame member so that said panel member may be collapsed upon said frame member, and means on said base member and said frame member to releasably hold said frame member when it is moved to erected position on said base member.

14. An article display and dispensing device comprising a base member adapted to be positioned on a horizontal supporting surface, a frame member formed of wire bent to provide a pair of leg forming sections and a connecting cross piece, said frame having its legs pivotally mounted on the base member and movable from a horizontal collapsed position to an upright erected position, and an article supporting panel member of relatively stifi bendable sheet material mounted on said frame member, said panel member having a transverse score line forming a hinge which divides the panel into two sections which are foldable upon each other, said panel having means adjacent said transverse score line for attaching the same to the cross piece of said frame member so that said panel member may be folded into flattened engagement with said frame member, and means on said base member to releasably hold said frame member when it is moved to erected position on said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

